Rugby in Japan Vol.7 No.24

 

Contents:

¡       ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010 – Fiji 22 d Japan 8

¡       Japan, Fiji at PNC

¡       Odds & Sods:

s     IRB Ranking: 13 (70.59, 7 June 2010)

s     The Think-tank:

¡       Looking Ahead:

s     The Endless Possibilities for November

 

ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010

June 2010

 

Now in its fifth year, the International Rugby Board (IRB) funded ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010 involves the three island nations Fiji, Samoa and Tonga along with Japan. New Zealand and Australia have not committed teams for 2010.

 

In 2006 this tournament kicked off as the Pacific Five Nations and involved Fiji, Japan, the Junior All Blacks (JAB), Samoa and Tonga. Australia A joined the competition in 2007 and the tournament name changed to its present moniker of Pacific Nations Cup. The same format was maintained for 2008 with the exception being the Maori were the New Zealand representative side rather than the Junior All Blacks.

 

In 2009, the Junior All Blacks (JAB) replaced the Maori as the New Zealand representative team, while Australia A did not participate in last year’s tournament. The 2009 tournament was condensed with the majority of the games played in Fiji rather than the home and away format of the three previous years. Also in 2009, ANZ (Australia and New Zealand Banking Group) came on board as the presenting sponsor for the tournament.

 

This year, Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga will take part in the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010. Except for the opening game between Fiji and Japan at Churchill Park in Lautoka, Fiji, Samoa and the Samoan Rugby Union will host the 2010 competition with the remaining five games slated for Apia Park in the capital city of Apia. With the tournament again largely being hosted in one country, refereeing and coaching workshops along with junior rugby clinics are planned for the two week duration of the event. This is also the first time for Samoa to host a major international 15-a-side rugby tournament. The occasion is also a fillip for Samoa after the 2009 Samoa Earthquake, an 8.1M submarine earthquake and resulting tsunami struck the area on 29 September causing significant damage and loss of life across the region.

 

 

Previous Winners

The New Zealand representative sides have won all four previous titles.

2009: The Junior All Blacks. The JAB again took the PNC title undefeated on 19 points. Fiji were runner-up on 14 points followed by Samoa on 12 points, while Japan finished fourth on 6 points with one win and three losses. Tonga took the wooden spoon on one point.

2008: The New Zealand Maori. The Maori took the PNC title undefeated with 21 points when they beat Australia A 21-18 in the final game in Sydney. Australia A finished runner-up on 20 points. Japan finished fifth on 7 points with one win and four losses.

2007: The Junior All Blacks. The JAB took the PNC title undefeated with 25 points garnering maximum points in each game. Australia A finished a distant runner-up on 16 points after they lost to the JAB and drew with Fiji. Japan finished last on 4 points with one win and four losses.

2006: The Junior All Blacks. The JAB took the P5N title undefeated with 20 points with maximum points in each game. Japan finished last on 0 points with four losses.

 

 

ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010 Schedule and Results

Round

Date

Teams

Venue

Kick-off

Round 1

Saturday, 12 June 2010

Samoa 24 (3Ts) d Tonga 23 (2Ts)

Apia Park, Apia

15:10

 

 

Fiji 22 (3Ts) d Japan 8 (1T)

Churchill Park, Lautoka

15:10

 

 

 

 

 

Round 2

Saturday, 19 June 2010

Samoa v Japan

Apia Park, Apia

13:10

 

 

Fiji v Tonga

Apia Park, Apia

16:10

 

 

 

 

 

Round 3

Saturday, 26 June 2010

Fiji v Samoa

Apia Park, Apia

13:10

 

 

Japan v Tonga

Apia Park, Apia

16:10

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010 Table

Team

P

W

L

F

A

+/-

BP1

BP2

Pts

Fiji

1

1

0

22

8

14

-

-

4

Samoa

1

1

0

24

23

1

-

-

4

Tonga

1

0

1

23

24

-1

-

1

1

Japan

1

0

1

8

22

-14

-

-

0

 

 

Round 1

 

Fiji 22 d Japan 8

 

Fiji 22 – Tries: Nikola Matawalu, Timoci Nagusa and Iliesa Keresoni; Conversions: Jaoji Dakuvula 2; Penalty: Jaoji Dukuvula d.

Japan 8 – Try: Takeshi Kikutani; Penalty: Ryan Nicholas.

 

Date: Saturday, 12 June 2010.

Venue: Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji.

Japan Test Number: 256.

Kick-off: 3:10 PM (local Fiji time).

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland).

Conditions: Fine and hot. Firm ground.

Attendance: 5,600.

Halftime: Fiji 3 – Japan 0.

 

 

Previous Encounters:

Prior to this test, Japan and Fiji have met on eleven occasions dating back to 1990. Fiji have won nine and Japan two.

Fiji 40 - Japan 39, Friday 3 July 2009, National Stadium, Suva, 4th PNC.

Japan 12 - Fiji 24, 22 June 2008, National Stadium, Tokyo, 3rd PNC.

Fiji 35 - Japan 31, 12 September 2007, Toulouse, 6th RWC.

Fiji 30 - Japan 15, 26 May 2007, Lautoka, 2nd Pacific Nations Cup (PNC).

Japan 15 - Fiji 29, 1 July 2006, Nagai, Osaka, Pacific Five Nations (P5N).

Fiji 41 - Japan 13, 23 October 2003, Townsville, 5th Rugby World Cup (RWC).

Japan 22 - Fiji 47, 20 May 2000, Chichibu, Tokyo, 5th PRC.

Fiji 16 - Japan 9, 5 June 1999, Lautoka, 4th Pacific Rim Championship (PRC).

Japan 20 - Fiji 8, 15 May 1994, National Stadium, Tokyo.

Japan 24 - Fiji 18, 8 May 1994, Ehime.

Japan 6 - Fiji 32, 4 March 1990, Chichibu, Tokyo.

 

NB: the Pacific Five Nations evolved into the Pacific Nations Cup and so 2007 can be considered the second year of the Pacific Nations Cup.

 

 

Japan (IRB rank 13 (70.59), at 7 June 2010)

Pos.

Name

Club

Age

Hgt/Wgt

Caps

1

Hisateru HIRASHIMA

Kobe Steelers

27

180/115

15

2

Shota HORIE

Sanyo Wild Knights

24

180/104

6

3

Shinsuke NAKAMURA

Suntory Sungoliath

22

190/115

6

4

Hitoshi ONO

Toshiba Brave Lupus

32

192/105

41

5

Luke THOMPSON

Kintetsu Liners

29

195/108

23

6

Michael LEITCH

Tokai Univ.

21

190/103

11

7

Toetu’u TAUFA

Kintetsu Liners

29

183/108

14

8

Takashi KIKUTANI (c)

Toyota Verblitz

30

187/100

31

9

Fumiaki TANAKA

Sanyo Wild Knights

25

166/75

18

10

Shaun WEBB

Coca-Cola Red Sparks

28

180/90

20

11

Kosuke ENDO

Toyota Verblitz

29

186/90

30

12

Ryan NICHOLAS

Suntory Sungoliath

31

192/100

21

13

Koji TAIRA

Suntory Sungoliath

27

185/95

22

14

Alisi TUPUAILEI

Canon Eagles

29

187/116

7

15

Kaoru MATSUSHITA

Toyota Verblitz

26

185/86

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

Hiroki YUHARA

Toshiba Brave Lupus

26

173/105

4

17

Naoki KAWAMATA

Sanyo Wild Knights

24

184/118

7

18

Toshizumi KITAGAWA

Toyota Verblitz

29

195/110

29

19

Koliniasi Ryu HOLANI

Sanyo Wild Knights

28

188/111

10

20

Koji WADA

Toyota Verblitz

25

173/78

3

21

James ARLIDGE

Newport Dragons (Wales)

30

187/93

21

22

Hirotoki ONOZAWA

Suntory Sungoliath

32

180/87

55

Head Coach: John Kirwan (NZ). (38 tests as head coach, for 21 wins, a draw and 16 losses.)

 

Subs

16 subbed 2, 37 min 2H.

17 subbed 1, 20 min 2H.

18 subbed 5, 20 min 2H.

19 subbed 6, 16 min 2H.

20 subbed 9, 33 min 2H.

21 subbed 10, 20 min 2H.

22 subbed 13, 16 min 2H.

 

 

Fiji (IRB rank 10 (75.90), at 7 June 2010)

 

Name

Club

Age

Hgt/Wgt

1

Campese Ma’afu

West Harbour (Aus)

25

187/114

2

Viliame Veikoso

Navoci

28

178/101

3

Alefoso Yalayalatabua

Navy

33

180/108

4

Sekonaia Kalou

Kaikorai

26

198/112

5

Dominiko Waqaniburotu (c)

Fraser Tech (NZ)

24

198/111

6

Rupeni Nasiga

Sigatoka, Nadroga

24

194/104

7

Jimilai Naikadawa

Kaite

24

184/105

8

Kelepi Ketedromo

Navoci

29

187/95

9

Nikola Matawalu

Navy

21

179/85

10

Jonetani Ralulu

Baravi

23

187/90

11

Nemani Nadolo

Bourgoin-Jallieu (Fra)

22

194/125

12

Iliesa Keresoni

Saracens (Eng)

23

187/90

13

Ropate Ratu

Aurillac (Fra)

25

183/92

14

Timoci Nagusa

Ulster (Ire)

22

188/88

15

Jaoji Dakuvula

Namoli

22

175/85

 

 

 

 

 

16

Talemaitoga Tuapatu

Woodlands

25

178/107

17

Graham Dewes

Counties Manukau (NZ)

28

182/114

18

Anthony Wise

Vuda Blues

27

179/108

19

Samu Volau

Police

27

182/105

20

Emosi Vucago

Gaunavou

27

165/89

21

Epeli Ruivadra

Navy

33

188/83

22

Malakai Radekedike

Colomiers (Fra)

25

184/91

Head Coach: Samu Domoni (41).

 

Subs

16 subbed 2, 16 min 2H.

17 subbed 1, 30 min 2H.

18 subbed 6, 25 min 2H.

19 subbed 7, 1 min 2H.

20 subbed 9, 37 min 2H.

21 subbed 13, 28 min 2H.

22 subbed 14, 25 min 2H.

 

NB: Cap counts for Fiji are nor included as no reliable information is available.

 

In a game in which the local Fijian TV commentators described the Japanese side as suffering from stage fright, a young and inexperienced Fiji out-muscled, out-enthused and out-played Japan with the final score line standing at 22-8. Although accurate statistics are always hard to come by when it comes to the Pacific island teams, Japanese wing Hirotoki Onozawa who made his fifty-fifth test match appearance when he came on from the bench in the second half probably had more international experience than the combined Fiji XXII. However, with Fiji playing their only home test for the season, the young local side rose to the occasion to out-score their opposition three tries to one after leading 3-nill at the halftime break.

 

After four easy wins in the HSBC Asian Five Nations and then a hit-out against North Harbour on the way to Fiji it seems the underdone Japanese wilted in the tropical heat under the pressure of a keen Fijian side who well and truly had their sights on racking up their ninth win in a row over Japan in a winning streak stretching back to May 1994. Although Japan have had the wood over Tonga in recent years, the glass ceiling is still intact when it comes to Fiji and also Samoa. This encounter was shaping up as a golden opportunity for Japan to break their Fijian curse but alas they will have another year to work out how to overcome their Pacific Nations Cup rivals. Until Japan can consistently beat teams like Fiji and Samoa, wherever the games are played, a spot in the IRB top ten rankings will be denied to them.

 

Five-eighth Shaun Webb missed two penalty attempts in the first half for Japan as did Fijian fullback Jaoji Dakuvula with the only successful score in the half coming in the fourth minute when Dakuvula landed his first shot at penalty. Japan were pinned in their own half for much of the first forty minutes where they were forced to defend their line for much of the time. When they did manage to get their hands on the ball, however, it seemed a number of players were guilty of having one eye on the incoming missile-like defence resulting in a high rate of unforced errors.

 

The game started to open up more in the second half with the first try in the match coming to halfback Nikola Matawalu in the ninth minute of play. Dakuvula kicked the conversion to push out the Fijian lead to 10-0 before wing Timoci Nagusa further extended the score line with Fiji’s second try in the fifteen minute. Dakuvula again landed the conversion to give Fiji a commanding 17-0 lead. The first points for Japan came on the hour mark with a successful penalty to centre Ryan Nicholas and when captain and No8 Takeshi Kikutani scored a dubious try in the thirty-second minute the visitors where still within sight of a win at 17-8 down. With no TMO in operation for this game television replays cast doubt over whether Kikutani successfully grounded the ball before going into touch. Nevertheless, the try stood to create an interesting run down to fulltime. With Japan having to play catch up rugby risks had to be taken but when centre Iliesa Keresoni crossed for the third Fijian try in the thirty-sixth minute it put the result beyond doubt with Fiji going on to claim a 22-8 victory.

 

 

 

Samoa 24 d Tonga 23

 

Samoa 24 – Tries: Junior Poluleuligaga, Mikaele Pesamino and penalty try; Conversions: Lolo Lui 3; Penalty: Paul Williams d.

Tonga 23 – Tries: Alaska Taufa and Vungakoto Lilo; Conversions: Kurt Morath 2; Penalties Kurt Morath 3.

 

Date: Saturday, 12 June 2010.

Venue: Apia Park, Apia, Samoa.

Kick-off: 3:10 PM local Samoa time.

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland).

Attendance: N/A.

Halftime: Samoa 10- Tonga 6.

 

Samoa: 1- Anthony Perenise, 2- Mahonri Schwalger (c), 3- Sakaria Taulafo, 4- Filipo Levi, 5- Jane Thompson, 6- Joe Tekori, 7- Falemiga Selesele, 8- George Stowers, 9- Junior Poluleuligaga, 10- Lolo Lui, 11- David Lemi, 12- Jamie Helleur, 13- George Pisi, 14- Mikaele Pesamino and 15- Paul Williams.

Reserves: 16- Andrew Williams, 17- James Afoa, 18- Manaia Salavea, 19- Alafoti Faosilivia, 20- Uale Mai, 21- Fautua Otto and 22- Uarotafou Setu.

Head Coach: Fuimaono Tafua.

 

Tonga: 1- Toma Toke, 2- Aleki Lutui (c), 3- Po’alo’i Taula, 4- Akameta Feao, 5- Alepini Olosoni, 6- Kelepi Halafihi, 7- Paula Kata, 8- Sione Kalamafoni, 9- Daniel Morath, 10- Kurt Morath, 11- Manu Ahota’e’iloa, 12- Andrew Mailei, 13- Saia Fekitoa, 14- Alaska Taufa and 15- Vungakoto Lilo.

Reserves: 16- Sione Vaiomounga, 17- Sione Fukofuka, 18- Steve Mafi, 19- Atunaisa Sikalu, 20- Samisoni Fisilau, 21- Fangatapu ‘Apikotoa and 22- Alipate Fatafehi.

Head Coach: Isitolo Maka.

 

 

Although Samoa had to work hard for their win, they managed to maintain their unbeaten status against Tonga in the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup with a one-point 24-23 victory in Apia on the weekend.

 

Last year, Samoa defeated Tonga 27-13 in Lautoka while in 2008, the Samoans defeated Tonga 20-15 in round four in Nuku’alofa. In 2007, in the Pacific Nations Cup, Samoa had a resounding 50-3 win in Apia, but then Tonga stunned their neighbours at the Rugby World Cup in France several months later winning their Pool A match 19-15. Meanwhile, in 2006 Samoa defeated Tonga 36-0 in Gosford in the IRB Pacific Five Nations as the tournament was then known.

 

Samoa led 10-6 at halftime after Tongan five-eighth Kurt Morath and Samoan fullback Paul Williams traded penalties early in the game. However, halfback Junior Poluleuligaga ensured the home side enjoyed the psychological lead at the break with the only try of the first half with five-eighth Lolo Lui adding the extras.

 

Morath narrowed the gap to one point early in the second stanza with his third penalty but this was undone when Irish referee Peter Fitzgibbon awarded Samoa a penalty try a few minutes later. An intercept try to Tongan fullback Vungakoto Lilo in the sixty-fifth minute converted by Morath kept the visitors in touch but when Mikaele Pesamino, the IRB Sevens player-of-the-year scored for Samoa with ten minutes to go it set up a grandstand finish with the hosts now holding a 24-16 lead. Tonga scored a converted try through right wing Alaska Taufa but in the end Samoa held on for a crucial 24-23 win.

 

 

 

 

Japan at the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup:

PH01931JOn 23 May 2010 the Japan Rugby Football Union announced the following 30-man squad for the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010. Wing Hirotoki Onozawa, was included in the national squad for the first time this season after missing the HSBC Asian Five Nations with an ankle injury.

 

Forwards: Hisateru Hirashima (Kobe), Naoki Kawamata (Sanyo), Shota Horie (Sanyo), Hiroki Yuhara (Toshiba), Takeshi Kizu (Tokai Uni.), Kensuke Hatakeyama (Suntory), Shinsuke Nakamura (Suntory), Hitoshi Ono (Toshiba), Toshizumi Kitagawa (Toyota), Luke Thompson (Kintetsu), Shinya Makabe (Suntory), Takashi Kikutani (c) (Toyota), Touetsu Taufa (Kintetsu), Michael Leitch (Tokai Uni.), Sione Vatuvei (Sanyo), Koliniasi Ryu Holani (Sanyo), Masakazu Toyota (Coca-Cola). Backs: Tomoki Yoshida (Toshiba), Fumiaki Tanaka (Sanyo), Koji Wada (Toyota), James Arlidge (Newport, Wales), Shaun Webb (Coca-Cola), Hirotoki Onozawa (Suntory), Kosuke Endo (Toyota), Yasunori Nagatomo (Suntory), Koji Taira (Suntory), Ryan Nicholas (Suntory), Alisi Tupuailei (Canon), Ryo Kanazawa (Ricoh) and Kaoru Matsushita (Toyota).

Head coach: John Kirwan.

 

2009 PNC (5 teams): Fourth on 6 points from 1 win and 3 losses.

2008 PNC (6 teams): Fifth on 7 points from 1 win and 4 losses.

2007 PNC (6 teams): Sixth on 4 points from 1 win and 4 losses.

2006 P5N (5 teams): Fifth on 0 points from 0 wins and 4 losses.

 

John Kirwan is now in his fourth tournament as head coach of Japan in this ANZ Pacific Nations Cup competition in 2010. Kirwan officially started as national coach on 1 January 2007, taking over from Frenchmen Jean-Pierre Elissalde who coached Japan through the inaugural Pacific Five Nations in 2006.

 

After finishing a winless last in 2006 Japan picked up their first win in this tournament in 2007 although they again finished in last place on the table. In 2007 Japan finished second last while the fourth placed finish in 2009 from one win and three losses belied the continuing improvements made under Kirwan and his coaching staff. However, one indicator of the progress made is the fact that Japan finished the 2009 tournament with an all time high of 14 in the IRB rankings. Four years ago at the completion of the 2006 Pacific Five Nations, Japan were ranked 20 in the world, so the hard work is starting to pay off with Japan currently sitting one better in the rankings in thirteenth place.

 

Japan have managed to beat Tonga over the past three years but they remain the only team the Japanese have been able to defeat in the previous four years of competition. There is still a glass ceiling in place when it comes to wins over Fiji and Samoa but these two sides cannot afford to take Japan lightly in 2010.

 

 

 

Fiji at the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup

 

PH01931JWith the tournament largely based in Fiji for 2009, the home side was always going to figure in a high finish on the table. Fiji beat Tonga 36-22 in round one in Nuku’alofa before losing 45-17 to the Junior All Blacks at Churchill Park in Lautoka in round two. After the bye in round three, Fiji bounced back to beat Samoa 19-14, also at Churchill Park. In the closing game of the tournament at the National Stadium in Suva the home side did it very tough against Japan but scraped home 40-39 in what was one of the games of the 2009 series. The win over Japan allowed Fiji to leapfrog Samoa on the final table to finish in second place, the best ever finish for the Fijians in the four year history of this tournament. Over the three previous years, Fiji consistently finished behind the New Zealand and Australian representative sides and Samoa on the final tables.

 

 

Squad

Forwards: Graham Dewes (Counties Manukau), Campese Ma’afu (West Harbour), Manasa Saulo (Ports), Alefoso Yalayalatabua (Navy), Talemaitoga Tuapatu (Woodlands), Viliame Veikoso (Navoci), Sekonaia Kalou (Kaikorai), Leone Nakarawa (Army), Rupeni Nasiga (Sigatoka, Nadroga), Anthony Wise (Vuda Blues), Samu Bola (Police), Kelepi Ketedromo (Navoci), Jimilai Naikadawa (Kaite), Dale Tonawai (Army), Mosese Volavola (Ravuka) and Dominiko Waqaniburotu (c) (Fraser Tech). Backs: Nikola Matawalu (Navy), Emosi Vucago (Gaunavou), Ropate Ratu (Aurillac), Epeli Ruivadra (Navy), Nemani Nadolo (Bourgoin-Jallieu), Timoci Nagusa (Ulster), Napolini Nalaga (Clermont Auvergne), Sireli Naqelevuki (Western Stormers), Ratu Nasiganiyavi (Manly), Malakai Radekedike (Colomiers), Jaoji Dakuvula (Namoli), Iliesa Keresoni (Saracens), Josatiki Naisilisili (Kaite), Jonetani Ralulu (Baravi) and Taniela Rawaqa (Vuda).

Head Coach: Samu Domoni.

 

 

2009 PNC (5 teams): Second on 14 points from 3 wins and 1 loss.

2008 PNC (6 teams): Fourth on 10 points from 2 wins and 3 losses.

2007 PNC (6 teams): Fourth on 9 points from 1 win, a draw and 3 losses.

2006 P5N (5 teams): Third on 10 points from 2 wins and 2 losses.

 

 

Samu Domoni takes over in 2010 from Ili Tabua as head coach after the former Fijian and Australian representative had the job for three seasons of this tournament after Wayne Pivac had the job in 2006.

 

Like Samoa and Tonga, Fiji often struggle to put their best team on the field for the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup due to the fact that many of their leading players are scattered around the world with overseas clubs. With player release and availability issues always to the fore the PNC more often than not allows many locally based players the opportunity to showcase their talents. In the absence of a New Zealand or an Australian side in the tournament this year, Fiji will be looking to go one better than 2009 and become the first non-New Zealand team to claim the PNC trophy.

 

 

Odds & Sods

Odds & Sods brings the reader weekly news shorts, gossip and general happenings from the world of Rugby in Japan.

 

News in Japan: Catching the headlines in Japan this week are –

 

IRB ranking on 7 June 2010 - Japan were 13 (70.59).

 

The Think-tank:

 

 

Looking Ahead

Looking Ahead gives the reader future dates for the diary and other great things to look forward to in Rugby in Japan.

 

November 2010

There is the possibility that the New Zealand Maori and maybe even the Wallabies will play against Japan in the November window month.

 

Another alternative being considered is three matches in November against Rod McQueen’s Melbourne Rebels ahead of their debut in the expanded Super 15 competition in 2011.

 

There is the added possibility that there will be no games for Japan in the autumn to allow the test level players to freshen up ahead of the very heavy schedule in 2011 leading up to the RWC in NZ late in the year.

 

Furthermore, there is also the rumour that Japan will play Italy home and away in November.

 

Plan E has Russia and also Samoa playing in Japan in November.

 

Into the Future

With the IRB working towards re-introducing traditional long tours there will be spin-offs for Japan in the lead-up to this country hosting the 2019 RWC. Although it is not set in concrete, a bevy of tier one countries are pencilled in to tour Japan with Wales touring in 2013, Scotland in 2016, Ireland in 2017 and Italy in 2018.